Improvement in cotton-presses



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. BURR, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTT ON-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,067, dated September 15, 1874; application filed February 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. BURR, of New Orleans, inthe parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Compressing Cotton; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification,in which Figures 1 and 3are sectional elevations of an ordinary follower and my new device. Figs. 2 and 4 are horizontal sections of a press with the bales inserted between the followers. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the slotted bands.

The invention relates to compresses whereby cotton-bales, as received from the planter, may be further reduced in bulk for foreign shipment, the cubic foot being made the standard of transportation charge.

A A represent the ordinary platen and follower between which the bale of cotton (after the ties are cut) is usually lessened in bulk. These have recesses a, through which ties are inserted and drawn and fastened to secure the bale in its reduced form before the compressor is removed. The bales have been found, after compression into a thickness of ten inches linear measurement and removal from the press, to have a maximum expansion of from ten to twenty-six, and a minimum of from ten to sixteen inches. This results from the fact that the bale-ties not being stretched to their full extent when inserted between the bearers, or within the notches of platen and follower, cannot be acted upon and straightened out by the cotton or by the pull of those who draw the tie-bands. Hence, as soon as the compressor is withdrawn, the outwardly-exerted elastic force of the cotton increases the Volume some equivalent device, which hold the out bands against the under surface of the follower, none being needed on the platen. O U- are a pair of bands which have slotted ends, which, being bent so as to overlap each other, are fastened by buttons D D, that pass through the slots 0 c and hold the two band ends together and against the intermediate shank d.

By this means all kinks or bends are taken out by the expression of the cotton, and the expansibility or regain of Volume brought down by actual experiment to about two inches or twenty per cent. By the difference of four inches between this and the minimum, whichis only obtained in the best compress, two and a half dollars in gold upon the freight charge to England for each bale is saved.

Having described my invention, what I claim is The mode herein described of compressing and baling cotton, by subjecting the bale to compression between plain-faced follower and platen, one of which is provided with devices for holding the bands against its face during the compressing operation.

JOHN T. BURR.

Witnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMON, CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

